Before Born to Run hit the shelves and launched explosive growth in ultrarunning, I sought to discover what my body was capable of in this tiny subset of the running community. Seeking an outlet and balance in my life while dealing with a turbulent working situation, I turned back to running which I had left behind some 12 years prior at the end of high school. It took time for fitness to return, but I set my sights on a marathon and soon was toeing the line. Crossing that finish with an overall win set the hook for what else I could achieve. Within a month, I took to the trails for a 50km and another win. Many remember those early races with the singlet that I was given by my daughter on my first Father’s Day that read “run, daddee, run” on the back. While it has since been retired, what has followed in the years since those first races and that singlet are beyond what I could have imagined, from victories and course records at a variety of distances and support/sponsorship by Feetures! socks, Honey Stinger, Core Power, and Petzl, to inclusion into an incredible community.

While the awards and accolades are wonderful to receive, it is the friendship and comradery of the running community that has proven far more rewarding. Quite simply, I enjoy sharing this passion helping many to achieve a first finish at any distance, others to achieve PRs in various distances, and some to conquer new distances and on different terrain. My journey to this level of competition has been a few years in the making, one of learning my strengths and limits, setting goals, advocacy, and of introspection.

Usually at races you can find my father, Roger, managing my nutrition and hydration and also giving back as a general resource to other runners providing his medical insight and the conclusions we have come to through trial and error.

My mother, Melissa, can at times be found by his side managing and crewing him so he is capable of doing the same for me with my wife, Lianne, and daughter, Amelia, often at the finish to cheer me in. We have been immersed into this community gaining countless friends and are glad to give back anything we can.

I am full-time Methodist minister, teach at local colleges, and most of all a proud and devoted husband and father. Life and a broad contact with the public of all ages allows me to speak realistically to fellow athletes and all who look to connect more deeply with their environment through exercise to improve overall health creating achievable goals and objectives alongside the challenges of life which I hope to help with through a blog and website soon … appropriately entitled ‘rundaddeerun’.

Highlighted Results

2011

Western New York Ultrarunner of the Year

2nd - Green Lakes 100 km

6th - MVP Rochester, NY Marathon

2nd - Can Lake 50 mile

1st - Mendon Trail Runs 50 km

2012

Western New York Ultrarunner of the Year

8th - National Rock 'N Roll Marathon, Washington D.C.

1st & course record - BPAC 6 Hour

3rd - Alleghany Adventure Run 22 km

1st - Highland 30 mile

1st & course record - Beast of Burden, Summer 50 mile

2nd - Mighty Niagara Half Marathon

1st & course record - Can Lake 50 mile

1st & course record - Mendon Trail Runs 50 km

2013

6th – National Rock ‘N Roll Marathon, Washington D.C.

1st from the greater Buffalo area – Boston Marathon

1st – BPAC 6 Hour

2nd – Green Lakes 100 km

5th – MVP Rochester Marathon

2nd – Can Lake 50 mile

8th – JFK 50 mile

2014

14th - Rock 'N Roll USA (Washington D. C.) Marathon

3rd – 0 SPF USATF Niagara Region Trail Championship

1st - MVP Rochester Marathon

1st – Oil Creek 100 Mile

2015

1st & course record - Beast of Burden, Winter 50 mile (5:51:10)

4th - Rock 'N Roll USA (Washington D.C.) Marathon

7th - The North Face Bear Mountain, NY 50 mile

9th - Cayuga Trail 50 mile

1st - Burning River 100 mile

1st & course record - Beast of Burden, Summer 25 mile